Tug-Of-War Continues – Inter Milan President Hits Back At Napoli Manager: “We Live In A Democracy, Free To Say What He Wants” | OneFootball

Inter Milan president Beppe Marotta replied to Napoli head coach Antonio Conte over recent comments regarding refereeing.

During his recent interview via L’Interista, Marotta delivered his verdict on Conte’s latest attempt to provoke the Nerazzurri.

Inter Milan fell victim to poor refereeing decisions in several Serie A games this season.

After a fatal oversight in September’s Derby d’Italia loss at Juventus, the San Siro giants were again victims of injustice against Napoli.

Indeed, referee Maurizio Mariani made a terrible mistake in the first half.

He awarded a phantom penalty to Napoli, setting the tone for their 3-1 home win in Serie A’s top-table six-pointer.

As a result, Serie A designator Gianluca Rocchi suspended the 43-year-old and his assistant, Daniele Bindoni.

However, it was hardly a comfort for Inter, considering they lost another high-stakes league clash.

Needless to say, the controversial decisions reignited debates about refereeing standards in Serie A and left Inter frustrated.

Inter Milan President Beppe Marotta Hits Back at Napoli Boss Antonio Conte

NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 09: Antonio Conte Napoli head coach during the Serie A match between Napoli and Udinese at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 09, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Speaking in a press conference ahead of Napoli’s Champions League clash against Frankfurt, Conte aimed a dig at Inter.

“I’m not going to talk about refereeing, let’s leave it alone,” he said. “As soon as you mention referees even a little, as soon as a problem is raised, they get confused.

“Have you seen? As soon as someone spoke, everything and more happened, so let’s not talk about referees, otherwise we confuse them even more.

“I repeat, it’s a shame because sometimes you see the system isn’t based on solid foundations.

“At the first gust of wind, as soon as someone stands up to speak and try to improve Italian football, you see what happens.”

“It’s not necessary to bring up this discussion again,” Marotta stated. “He is completely free to say certain things, of course.

“If there is respect and democracy, everyone can express their opinion. You may not agree, but that’s fine.

“It’s a beautiful and unpredictable championship, something we haven’t seen in several years.

“I’ve seen strong performances from many, including Allegri’s Milan.”